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Most Balanced And Fair-Minded Comment on Ferguson Comes From NFL Player
From New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson:
At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts:
I’M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.
I’M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from safety movie sets and music studios.
I’M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I’m a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon as a “threat” to those who don’t know me. So I will continue to have to go the extra mile to earn the benefit of the doubt.
I’M EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protests, and law breaking only confirm, and in the minds of many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment.
I’M SAD, because another young life was lost from his family, the racial divide has widened, a community is in shambles, accusations, insensitivity hurt and hatred are boiling over, and we may never know the truth about what happened that day.
I’M SYMPATHETIC, because I wasn’t there so I don’t know exactly what happened. Maybe Darren Wilson acted within his rights and duty as an officer of the law and killed Michael Brown in self defense like any of us would in the circumstance. Now he has to fear the backlash against himself and his loved ones when he was only doing his job. What a horrible thing to endure. OR maybe he provoked Michael and ignited the series of events that led to him eventually murdering the young man to prove a point.
I’M OFFENDED, because of the insulting comments I’ve seen that are not only insensitive but dismissive to the painful experiences of others.
I’M CONFUSED, because I don’t know why it’s so hard to obey a policeman. You will not win!!! And I don’t know why some policeman abuse their power. Power is a responsibility, not a weapon to brandish and lord over the populace.
I’M INTROSPECTIVE, because sometimes I want to take “our” side without looking at the facts in situations like these. Sometimes I feel like it’s us against them. Sometimes I’m just as prejudiced as people I point fingers at. And that’s not right. How can I look at white skin and make assumptions but not want assumptions made about me? That’s not right.
I’M HOPELESS, because I’ve lived long enough to expect things like this to continue to happen. I’m not surprised and at some point my little children are going to inherit the weight of being a minority and all that it entails.
I’M HOPEFUL, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it’s a beautiful thing.
I’M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I’M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through the his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that’s capable of looking past the outward and seeing what’s truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It’s the Gospel. So, finally, I’M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/BenjaminWatsonOfficial/posts/602172116576590
Published in General
iDad, I am sympathetic to the idea of not dignifying certain ideas with a response. However, I think there are two differences between your two hypothetical statements. The first of these is plausibility. No matter how implausible you find the idea of a rogue cop losing his temper and killing someone, it is simply many times more plausible than the idea of a conspiracy on the part of the president of the United States to kill thousands of US citizens. The second is more relative. Maybe you are lucky enough to live among people for whom the behavior of the policeman is not automatically suspect, but most of us are not. The prevalence of the rogue cop idea is high enough that people who believe it should be addressed.
Cite the evidence that Darren Wilson “provoked” Brown and ” murder[ed] the young man to prove a point.” In the absence of such evidence, that accusation isn’t plausible. The fact that certain people believe it doesn’t make it so.
The notion that we must address (mollify) people who believe unsubstantiated but “prevalent” ideas led us to the George Zimmerman travesty.
iDad, let’s just agree to disagree. Our opinion of this piece won’t change the way it’s been written, anyway. Happy Thanksgiving!
Let’s review. Gordon suggested that it’s possible that Wilson “provoked” and “murdered” Brown.
Rachel Lu endorsed the accusation. When I asked ,Ms. Lu for evidence that Wilson did any such thing, she provided none. Instead she proclaimed a right to “a fair amount of conjecture,” which included speculating that Wilson is “culpably callous about the value of human life” and is guilty of doing something that caused Brown to “be so aggressive.”
You lauded its inclusion in Gordon’s piece on the ground that it makes the piece more appealing to blacks and rich white liberals and described it as “plausible.” When I asked you for evidence that it’s plausible, you tell me we should “agree to disagree.”
But you did wish me a Happy Thanksgiving. So I hope you had a great Thanksgiving yesterday and are enjoying the rest of the holiday weekend.